When asked about the possibility of Gabbert being a starter for the team in 2018 should Carson Palmer retire after the season, he didn’t shy away from the question.

“The way he’s playing right now, I’d be very, very comfortable,” he said.

In two starts, he has shown enough promise where he could be at least part of the equation. Whether he becomes the clear-cut starter for the next several seasons, a temporary starter to bridge the gap to a young quarterback they draft or simply as a backup, he appears to be a good fit.

Drew Stanton is a free agent after the season and is 33 years old. At a minimum, he could be a younger version of Stanton as the backup moving forward. His ceiling might be long-term starter.

The question is whether Arians has a Stanton-level comfort or a Palmer-level comfort with Gabbert at this point.